Bundle up and head to a campground

Bundled in layers, the Taylors keep warm in a heated camper, protected from the wind in their canopy or by fireside. Angel Taylor keeps Sassy, her Shih-Tzu, warm by wrapping her close in Taylor's jacket. The sleet storm that hit Monday night sounded "like somebody was cooking a deep-fryer turkey on the roof" of their camper, according to Angel.(Photo: Gillis Benedict/Livingston Daily)

While some prefer to camp in the spring or fall, others seem to enjoy camping when there is snow on the ground.

No thanks, that is too cold for the liking of many outdoor enthusiasts.

"It takes a special kind of person to camp in the wintertime," laughed Mike Donnelly, Brighton Recreation Area park supervisor. "But people do it and really enjoy it."

Camping is something many do in state parks during the winter months, and it is something the Brighton Recreation Area started offering to its guests two years ago.

"We had some people who were requesting it and decided to open a certain amount of campground spots for those who enjoy camping during this time of the year," Donnelly said, noting that the park isn't as crowded as usual around the wintertime. “There are people who truly enjoy camping in the wintertime. We usually only get five to six people camping at any given time, but they come — and we are providing for them.”

Typical activities people do at the park while camping include cross country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, riding fat-tire bikes, hunting and sledding.

"We typically see the cross country skiing the most," Donnelly said.

The lower portion of the campground is where the sites are available for winter camping.

However, the state park doesn't always see a large turnout.

“We have roughly 82 sites available right now,” Donnelly said. “Once we get a real heavy snow, however, we cut that number in half because not a lot of people are out camping.”

Two winters ago, Donnelly said Michiganders experienced "extreme cold temperatures" and the park didn't see but one or two people camping that winter.

"It was a rough one," he said. "Last winter we had a large amount of snow, but we still saw several people so I think it just depends on what people prefer when it comes to camping in this type of weather."

Even though there hasn't been much snow, the campground has seen quite a few people already on site.

“They just want to be out in the wintertime because people like the beauty of the snow and it’s not a large crowd of people at the campground, “ Donnelly said. “

Donnelly said a vast majority of the campers who come out in the winter travel in a recreational vehicle.

“By the time it gets really cold is when we see the tent campers leave,” he said.

The park has electricity available to keep the RVs heated.

"The walk to the bathroom building can be cold,” laughed Donnelly. "Most of the challenges I think campers face are weather related. Every morning we get the snowplow out there at 7:30 a.m., but sometimes people can get stuck until we plow over to them."

Donnelly said the staff is happy to provide winter camping to those who thoroughly enjoy it.